The Dark Side of the Fitness Industry: Internalized Misogyny
Internalized Misogyny and the Fitness Industry Being a female personal trainer means grappling with internalized misogyny
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As a female personal trainer, navigating internalized misogyny is an inevitable part of the journey. Today, we're diving into uncomfortable yet crucial territory. While these topics might be challenging, they're essential for fostering positive change within ourselves, with our clients, and in the wider fitness community. Let's start by unpacking the connection between internalized misogyny and the pervasive influence of patriarchal ideals in the fitness realm. Within this culture, physical standards often dictate what constitutes the "ideal" body for women. These standards not only reinforce harmful stereotypes but also perpetuate inequality by tying a woman's worth to her appearance.
Breaking free from these toxic influences requires courage and introspection. We must challenge ingrained norms and recognize that health and worth are not determined by conforming to narrow beauty standards. Embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity are essential steps in creating a more empowering fitness culture.
Body Standards: How They're Reinforced
Prescribed Standards: Fitness professionals often perpetuate body standards that dictate the "ideal" female body. This perpetuation reinforces the harmful notion that a woman's value is tied to her appearance. How many of you have thought that our own fitness dictates the worthyness of what you charge, how much you put yourself out there as a certified fitness professional or challenged how and what you’ve shared because you didn’t feel good enough?
Just look at these Power Dynamics: Within the fitness industry, certain body types are deemed superior ( think, creating a hierarchy that pressures women to conform. This reinforces internalized misogyny and perpetuates harmful beauty ideals.
Judgment and Stereotypes: Women who deviate from beauty norms face judgment and stereotypes, perpetuating inequality and limiting diverse expressions of fitness.
Objectification: At times, the fitness industry objectifies women's bodies, reducing them to mere aesthetics. This objectification reinforces the idea that a woman's value lies in her appearance, contributing to self-judgment dissatisfaction and if you’re anything like me at some point it your life is has lead to harmful dieting.
It's okay if you've been caught up in these dynamics. Recognizing them is the first step toward change. Let's challenge outdated standards and create a more inclusive fitness community together.
I want to paint a picture of how we watched this journey of confronting stereotypes was shown to us by Stephanie Buttermore's courageous journey. She documented her journey so transparently on YouTube. And this provides a powerful testament to the pervasive issues within the fitness industry. As she embraced the process of gaining weight, challenging societal norms and beauty standards in the fitness industry, Stephanie exemplified resilience against the internalized misogyny prevalent in the fitness realm. Her experience highlighted the immense pressure placed on women to conform to unrealistic expectations, perpetuating a toxic cycle of self-judgment and body dysmorphia.
I had a similar yet very different journey in which I gained 30 pounds in 3 months after competitions which I talk about in this video.
By sharing these stories of, we can dismantle oppressive narratives and empower individuals to challenge the internalized misogyny deeply rooted in the fitness culture.
While we are on the topic of internalized misogyny, we have to talk about how dieting ties into this. Now, as trainers we were taught that a hypocaloric diet is how we lose weight. As I’ve discussed in lots of other YouTube videos (which I’ll link a playlist to int he description) Low Energy Availability, a state in which the body does not have enough energy left to support all physiological functions needed to maintain optimal health. When compared to the normal population, athletes are particularly at risk to experience LEA and the reasons for this are manifold. Caloric deficits put people at risk for LEA. LEA is a critical concern, particularly within the context of avid exercisers and the dynamic relationship between personal trainers and their clients. This condition, often associated with disordered eating or excessive exercise, extends its repercussions beyond energy deficiency, impacting various facets of health.
For women engaged in regular exercise routines, LEA can disrupt menstrual cycles and reproductive function, creating a complex challenge for both personal trainers and clients. The consequences of LEA go beyond immediate health concerns and can affect the very foundation of physical well-being. Skeletal health is at risk due to decreased bone density, directly impacting clients' physical skills and overall performance.
The hormonal imbalances induced by LEA may not only compromise physical abilities but also extend to cognitive skills, concentration, and decision-making. As personal trainers, recognizing the signs of LEA in clients becomes crucial to providing effective support and guidance.
Committing to ongoing education is linked to a personal trainer's dedication to the holistic well-being and deep care for their clients. By emphasizing the importance of hormone health within the realm of exercisers, personal trainers can create an environment that prioritizes comprehensive health and fosters success beyond achieving fitness goals. And it can offer novel ways to support fitness goals, all within the trainers scope of practice. The Moral Imperative of Healthy food The moral imperative surrounding "healthy food" is intricately woven into the fabric of the fitness industry. This imperative often stems from expectations, perpetuating harmful norms. Here's how it ties into the broader context:
•Connection to Body Image: The notion of "healthy food" is frequently linked to body image ideals dictated by societal beauty norms and standards and trends among fitness influencers. This connection can lead to people feeling pressured to conform to these ideals or whatever the influencer is selling in order to have a body image like said influencer.
•Control and Discipline: The emphasis on consuming "healthy food" is sometimes wielded as a tool for control and discipline, especially in female fitness circles. Women may feel compelled to adhere strictly to dietary restrictions, reinforcing the notion that their worth, value and credibility as a coach is tied to their ability to conform to the standard of control and discipline with food.
•Influence on Eating Disorders: The moralization of food choices can contribute to the development of disordered eating patterns. Individuals may experience guilt or shame for deviating from perceived "healthy" options, fostering a negative relationship with food that extends beyond nutritional considerations.
•Perpetuation of Dichotomies: The moral imperative of "healthy food" often perpetuates dichotomies, such as labeling certain foods as "good" and others as "bad." This binary thinking can lead to extreme dietary behaviors and further entrenches harmful stereotypes within the fitness industry.